Hi this is The Leadership Boost, boosting your leadership into high performance, with your host Shaun Smit.
Episode 33
Title: The Leaders Communication
James Humes said: The art of communication is the language of leadership.
A survey of employees expectations revealed that consistent, meaningful communication from their managers /leaders, was high on their priority list.
As a leader you are always communicating. What messages are you sending with your habits and your behavior?
Skill in the art of communication is the leaders success. As a leader, you can accomplish nothing unless you can communicate effectively.
The problem here is the illusion or deception when the leader thinks communication has taken place.
If it isn’t consistent, meaningful, and with clarity, your team begins to switch off at some point. You think you are still communicating but nobody’s at home.
The other problem is leaders don’t listen. Well they do, but only to give a reply.
For communication to happen it must be a 2 - way interaction. You must be clear on your subject matter, your approach, and how to keep moving the conversation forward. But then, you must master the skill of listening, listening with purpose. If you’re not present when your team members are sharing with you, they stop sharing. Leaders then complain their team doesn’t bring innovation or creativity or originality or initiative to the table. But when they ventured out and tried, you weren’t listening. They will stop communicating. Learn to listen and learn to be present. Listen to what is and what isn’t being said.
If you constantly are looking at your screen, reading messages, it clearly communicates “I do not value your input!” Remember communication is both ways. This is the illusion communication has taken place- it’s all in your head.
John Powell said: Communication works for those who work at it.
Thanks for listening.
